Social Class And Religion Flashcards
What do Ashworth and farthing?
-Churchgoing is associated with the m/c as they had above average frequency of church attendance
-VS W/C who are dependant on state benefits because of sickness, unemployment or old age were the least likely to regularly attend church
YouGov survey?
7000 adults conducted in 2015 found 62% of regular churchgoers were middle-class
The British social attitudes BSA survey?
- 73% of skilled manual workers claimed they had never attended a religious service
63% of professional and managerial workers
Critic of the BSA?
Didn’t focus on exclusively on service of religious worship, also included weddings christening and funerals
Voas and Watt 3 observations?
-Attendance in rural church is 2x higher than urban
-Church attendance is higher in the south of England than in north and midlands
-Growth in church attendance in suburban areas which had academically high preform in church primary and secondary school
What does Voas and Watt suggest?
Church attendance is higher amongst the middle class
Are middle class and working class more likely to have religious belief?
Working class
Religious belief- Lawes?
Lifelong theist come from semi skilled and unskilled manual backgrounds and are less likely to have academic qualifications
Contradicts with church attendance
-Life long atheists are more likely to come from high professional and managerial roles
Critic of Lawes?
Can’t generalise religion and social class, for example African or other immigrants to the UK may tend to have a deeper religious faith as well as living in deprived areas and therefore for in lower class. So is it class or culture
Reasons why the working class have more religious beliefs?
-Opium of masses (Marx)
-Financial social support and welfare
-Sense of belonging and community
What does Glock think of sects and social class?
Economic deprivation
Economic deprivation
Glock- how does economic deprivation relate to social class v religion?
They the poorest social groups are offered divine compensation for there low status so gives a way for them to deal with disadvantage e.g. rasatfarianusm and Branch Dravidian’s
What does Wallis think of sects and social class?
Psychic deprivation
Wallis- how does psychic deprivation relate to social class v religion?
Sects like children of god, unification of the church attracted m/c uni student that experience psychic deprivation as they are disillusioned with capatalism society and parents culture
What does Bruce think of sects and social class?
Ethical deprivation
Bruce- how does ethical deprivation relate to social class v religion?
Uni educated Muslim girls feel western capitalist society is to dependant on materialism and is spiritually corrupt
Attracted to Islamist as fundamental movement stressed tradition values allowing us to reclaim past and attain certainty
Who are our religion case study?
Jehovas Whitness Holden
What is Jehovas Witness?
A sect
Holden- Jehovas Witness?
People that join sect are usually skilled w/c, self employed and lower class. Leading to them to work in jobs with little human interaction so ultimately feel isolated
Disillusion with the social political and economic system
Ultimately JW provides a Sade haven and a strong science of community
Holden- Jehovas Witness factors?
-Conversion is heroic due to its self sacrifice
-Commitment to witness theology and ethics assuring them of heavenly salvation
-JW have a compulsory evangelic role instilling them a strong scence of self worth
Who are more likely to be in a cult?
The m/c due to the cost of investing in these spiritual interests can be quite high
Bruce- why are m/c attracted to cults?
NAM appeal to those who’s material and financial needs are satisfied yet they feel there may be more to life than money (spiritual deprivation)
Heelas- why are m/c attracted to cults?
NA ideas and activity appeal to highly educated professionals especially females and people who work in creative fields who have a deep interest in exploring full potential
